Age dynamics of the main properties of wool of stud rams of the leading breeding farms in the Stavropol Territory

The purpose of the research was to study the age dynamics of the main properties of wool of stud rams of the breeding farms in the Stavropol Territory to identify effective use in the mating campaign. The data of a comprehensive assessment of the fleece of fine-wool breeds of the leading breeding farms in the Stavropol Territory have been presented such as AA “Rodina” (Russian Meat Merino), APC BF “Put Lenina” (Stavropol breed), CBF “Manych” (Manych Merino), APC CBF “Russia” (Manych Merino), CBF im. Lenin (Manych Merino), APC “PZ Vtoraya Pyatiletka” (Dzhalginsky Merino). The studies were carried out in accordance with the technological regulations “Control of quality indicators of wool, meat and sheepskins by morphohistological methods”. It was found that in the age dynamics of wool fineness in rams of Russian Meat Merino and Stavropol breeds decreased by 1 μm with excellent uniformity in fleece, which is important for the hereditary characteristics of wool productivity. The wool fineness of animals of Dzhalginsky Merino breed was 20.6–20.8 μm it was somewhat coarser in representatives of Manych Merino 22.6 μm, but on average in three farms breeding this breed the fi neness was 21.7 μm. In these farms stabilization of the trait at the level of 20.8–22.6 μm was observed. A passport of complex fleece assessment for registration of the obtained instrumental data was developed and patented. The leader in the results of complex fleece assessment are stud rams of Dzhalginsky Merino breed from the APC “PZ Vtoraya Pyatiletka”. Both for the quantity of the produced products and for their quality a score of 50 points were obtained and ultimately 100-point animals. Targeted selection and breeding work using instrumental studies of the main properties of wool led to the stabilization and consolidation of productive features of wool qualities with minimal differences both within age and sex groups, and in comparison between breeds.